[A study on health and caregiving status of the elderly over age 75 living in urban Tokyo--comparing 1987 with 1993].
The purpose of this study is to propose the improvement of the community care service and caregivers' support system. A questionnaire was sent to the elderly over age 75 living in Chuo Ward of Tokyo, on their living place, previous illness, health status, degree of assistance needed, and their caregivers. The same kind of surveys were made in 1987 and 1993, and the health status and home care were compared and changes in caregiver services were examined. Valid responses of 3,294 (response rate of 81.3%) in 1987 and 3,409 (response rate of 76.3%) in 1993 were analyzed and compared with each other. The results are following; (1) The total number of bedridden elderly persons decreased from 214 (6.5% of the total) in 1986 to 61 (1.8% of the total) in 1993. The number of elderly over age 75 with high health status increased. (2) The rate of the elderly who stay only indoors, although physically non-handicapped and in good health, was 20%. (3) The statistic of caregivers' concern about care services in the answer to open ended questions showed the increase of the desire for the supply of information, and the fact of more suitable pieces of advice having been given about the resources for care, care-give service, and family adjustment. It is necessary to establish the system to support and develop home care in the community in the future. Social support will also be necessary not only for infirm or handicapped elderly people, but also for demented, living in solitude, or non-social withdrawn healthy aged people to make use of community care service, counseling of care service and short stay at nursing homes. Especially the importance of community care service to prevent the elderly from being bedridden was suggested. Moreover, general broad support is necessary, such as social education, income guarantee and housing measure as well as that from the point of view of health and welfare.
Sato
R
R
Iida
S
S
Noji
A
A
Murasima
S
S
Kondo
Y
Y
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D018577:Homebound Persons; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health